Aspects of Love

[chernjam]

Hard to believe that there's not a thread already, but apart from the one recent revival I wasn't able to find one for Aspects of Love - which for me is tied to Sunset Blvd as ALW's best score. (Sunset might have an edge in the story is far better, but anyway...) 

Was excited to find this clip of the Canadian production which became the US Tour of Aspects.  The original Broadway production was the first musical I had ever seen, which became an instant favorite for me.  A few years later was able to see this tour at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC - and enjoyed it even more:



frustrating as it's only 2 minutes and there's obvious cuts.  I'm kind of surprised there's so few clips online of any productions.

[cezbear]

Oh thanks for sharing this. I have always been absolutely in love with the score, for me probably his most gorgeous. I wonder why the odd cuts in that video, looked like the full thing would have been interesting.

[Someone in a tree]

I loved the Gale Edwards production.

I'd like a new recording of it as I'm not a michael ball fan

[chernjam]

It's really surprising to me that there's only been one full recording of this - the Canadian cast was so wonderful and they had made changes to the score and lyrics at the time, that I had hoped that would've been recorded. I know there's a one disc Japanese recording that I've been curious about, but thought between it being such a limited recording and in Japanese, that it wasn't worth the expense

[Someone in a tree]

Has this show ever been set? GE's production started with the funeral, Choc Fac's started in French etc

[max]

I think what was seen at Hope Mill and then Southwark was the 'set' version of the show. It came after this process which, according Wikipedia at least, had ALW settle the definitive version:

"The new Definitive script was staged at The Playhouse, Whitley Bay from February to March 2014. Produced by Tynemouth Operatic Society, it was the first non-professional staging in the UK with the new script and full orchestra. It was also the first staging in the world of the Definitive version worked on by Lord Lloyd Webber who pulled together various aspects of productions and tours over the years and created the show as he wishes to see it staged."

[chernjam]

May 8, 2022 7:03:19 GMT max said:

I think what was seen at Hope Mill and then Southwark was the 'set' version of the show. It came after this process which, according Wikipedia at least, had ALW settle the definitive version:

"The new Definitive script was staged at The Playhouse, Whitley Bay from February to March 2014. Produced by Tynemouth Operatic Society, it was the first non-professional staging in the UK with the new script and full orchestra. It was also the first staging in the world of the Definitive version worked on by Lord Lloyd Webber who pulled together various aspects of productions and tours over the years and created the show as he wishes to see it staged."

I've always wondered and been frustrated about the lack of any account about that "new definitive script".  When it was occurring in 2014 I remember searching online every possible place I could for any info as I was really curious about what changes and how that production went, particularly since it had a "full orchestra"

Can you enlighten what was different in the Hope Mill production?

[max]

Hi Chernjam, There was nothing radical in the Hope Mill > Southwark Playhouse script. Above, a production was mentioned that had the funeral first - nothing of that magnitude was changed. I remember Giulietta's 'There Is More To Love' landing very strongly, and it feeling that there was more back story for her, but it may have just been a strong performance giving more depth. Hasn't that song sometimes been done as a duet?; I'm pretty sure it was a solo here from a deeply lonely Giulietta.

The Hope Mill production had just 2 pianos and percussion.

I feel I would like to see it again - it's a difficult piece, and needs a director who will excavate every detail. In the Hope Mill (and previous UK tour) Marcel came across as a larger figure (another 'aspect' of love: non-sexual devotion) than the cast recording alone would suggest.  That helps it to come across as more conceptual - a good thing, as it may reduce the objection that they're all unlikeable bed-hoppers.  Maybe it needs a more danced production (for a change) - dance all of it?!  Bigger sections from The Master Builder etc.

But - the show is fixed now.  And we know ALW never changes his mind.....

[chernjam]

If I remember correctly, "There is more to love" was a late addition to Aspects (not sure if it was there for the World Premiere or not) - which has always been one of my favorites not just from Aspects, but of all ALW's compositions. In subsequent productions (when I saw it on Broadway for example) it was a duet and there was a couple of reprises of it which were most welcome.

When I saw the Toronto/US Tour production, it was a bit startling that it started with the coffin (and I think torches) with an orchestral "Hand me the wine and the dice" which broke with Alex and Giulietta (with a revised "Love Changes Everything" - from "hands and faces, earth and sky" to "each beginning, each goodbye") which heightened the drama right from the outset.

There's lots in that score that it deserves a full-blown revival with a real orchestra. Sorry I'm not flying to the UK for two pianos. It seemed like the recent Australian production was a bit fuller one.

[max]

Interesting recollections of Toronto/US tour - thanks. The 'two pianos' was the Hope Mill Manchester version that transferred to Southwark Playhouse in London. So that's the one that was a professional outing after an amateur company (with full orchestra) premiered the apparently 'fixed' version of the script.

I'm sure this rumoured revival would have more than two piano - though what 'full orchestra' means these days...who knows?

[Oliver]

May 7, 2022 4:38:07 GMT chernjam said:

Hard to believe that there's not a thread already, but apart from the one recent revival I wasn't able to find one for Aspects of Love - which for me is tied to Sunset Blvd as ALW's best score. (Sunset might have an edge in the story is far better, but anyway...) 

Was excited to find this clip of the Canadian production which became the US Tour of Aspects.  The original Broadway production was the first musical I had ever seen, which became an instant favorite for me.  A few years later was able to see this tour at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC - and enjoyed it even more:



frustrating as it's only 2 minutes and there's obvious cuts.  I'm kind of surprised there's so few clips online of any productions.

I love Aspects of Love. The main problem is the lyrics, some of which are good e.g. "Love can make the summer fly or a night seem like a lifetime" (probably not that original but simple and effective), and some are trite: "Seeing is believing / I dreamt that it would be her / At last life is full / Life is fine now" (I'm guessing Charles Hart was responsible for this one). I have often wondered why there are not more recordings but the OCR is very good. 

[newyorkcityboy]

May 9, 2022 0:24:51 GMT chernjam said:

If I remember correctly, "There is more to love" was a late addition to Aspects (not sure if it was there for the World Premiere or not) - which has always been one of my favorites not just from Aspects, but of all ALW's compositions. In subsequent productions (when I saw it on Broadway for example) it was a duet and there was a couple of reprises of it which were most welcome.

When I saw the Toronto/US Tour production, it was a bit startling that it started with the coffin (and I think torches) with an orchestral "Hand me the wine and the dice" which broke with Alex and Giulietta (with a revised "Love Changes Everything" - from "hands and faces, earth and sky" to "each beginning, each goodbye") which heightened the drama right from the outset.

There's lots in that score that it deserves a full-blown revival with a real orchestra. Sorry I'm not flying to the UK for two pianos. It seemed like the recent Australian production was a bit fuller one.

I saw the duet version of TOMTL in London in 1992 - has it *ever* been recorded? The Japanese CD is amazing!

[sukhavati]

May 7, 2022 4:38:07 GMT chernjam said:

Hard to believe that there's not a thread already, but apart from the one recent revival I wasn't able to find one for Aspects of Love - which for me is tied to Sunset Blvd as ALW's best score. (Sunset might have an edge in the story is far better, but anyway...) 

Was excited to find this clip of the Canadian production which became the US Tour of Aspects.  The original Broadway production was the first musical I had ever seen, which became an instant favorite for me.  A few years later was able to see this tour at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC - and enjoyed it even more:



frustrating as it's only 2 minutes and there's obvious cuts.  I'm kind of surprised there's so few clips online of any productions.

Oh goodness - I remember this production. I was in Los Angeles when this came to town. Sarah Brightman was doing that stop of the tour as Rose, and she'd had different costumes made in shades of...wait for it...rose...for her iteration of the part (the costume/production design was all black, white, and gray scale). That was her post-divorce consolation prize, to make up for being cut from the potential Phantom film. She was threatening to sue ALW, so he gave her this role along with a "Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber" tour to make up for it. If I remember correctly, she only did the show in the biggest cities of the tour. Suffice to say, she was middling, as her voice hadn't yet developed to what it became with her later popera CDs.

[chernjam]

May 12, 2022 0:19:38 GMT sukhavati said:

May 7, 2022 4:38:07 GMT chernjam said:

Hard to believe that there's not a thread already, but apart from the one recent revival I wasn't able to find one for Aspects of Love - which for me is tied to Sunset Blvd as ALW's best score. (Sunset might have an edge in the story is far better, but anyway...) 

Was excited to find this clip of the Canadian production which became the US Tour of Aspects.  The original Broadway production was the first musical I had ever seen, which became an instant favorite for me.  A few years later was able to see this tour at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC - and enjoyed it even more:



frustrating as it's only 2 minutes and there's obvious cuts.  I'm kind of surprised there's so few clips online of any productions.

Oh goodness - I remember this production. I was in Los Angeles when this came to town. Sarah Brightman was doing that stop of the tour as Rose, and she'd had different costumes made in shades of...wait for it...rose...for her iteration of the part (the costume/production design was all black, white, and gray scale). That was her post-divorce consolation prize, to make up for being cut from the potential Phantom film. She was threatening to sue ALW, so he gave her this role along with a "Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber" tour to make up for it. If I remember correctly, she only did the show in the biggest cities of the tour. Suffice to say, she was middling, as her voice hadn't yet developed to what it became with her later popera CDs.

oh wow - I never knew that Brightman moved into the tour when it came to big cities like LA (had Linda Balgord left or was she sidelined for these?)
Honestly I never liked Brightman and thought her voice was overrated.  Especially with music from Aspects - Ann Crumb blew her out of the water

[sukhavati]

May 12, 2022 22:26:29 GMT chernjam said:

oh wow - I never knew that Brightman moved into the tour when it came to big cities like LA (had Linda Balgord left or was she sidelined for these?)
Honestly I never liked Brightman and thought her voice was overrated.  Especially with music from Aspects - Ann Crumb blew her out of the water

I don't mind Sarah's recordings, as her voice was almost always fattened up. But I really can't abide watching her and her mannerisms. I agree that Ann Crumb was so much better in the role. But it was almost a full circle situation because Ann Crumb was cast in the original UK production of Aspects as the reciprocal arrangement with American Equity in exchange for Sarah taking the "star making" role of Christine away from a potential  American actress in the NY opening of Phantom. I don't remember hearing about what happened to Linda Balgord when Sarah was in LA, but it was an ALW dictate that Sarah play the role where she'd benefit from the exposure, with all the studios etc. I'm not really a huge fan of hers. Her overblown tours made me realize that if she were truly a great singer, all she'd need was a piano or band (or orchestra - I'm all for an orchestra) backing her up. The costume changes, the dancers, the crazy sets - whole lot of distraction. I always wonder if Sarah is miming or singing live. But I feel as if it's a combination of audience demand because of high ticket prices and artists trying to disguise their weaknesses that leads to those road show extravaganzas for a variety of singers across multiple genres. I think Aspects was the only play/musical that Sarah did in America aside from Phantom.

[newyorkcityboy]

I’m biased as I love SB but never saw her as Rose. I find her recordings of the songs from Aspects better than the originals in every way. Especially There Is More To Love, Chanson D’Enfance and Seeing Is Believing (which she did with Michael Ball).

[Oleanna]

Any more news on this?